Submarine amusement device.



No. 868,736. PATENTED OCT. 22, 1907. 1).- E. WASHINGTON.

SUBMARINE AMUSEMENT DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAB.25,190'I.

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lllllllllm F7716 N U PATENTED OCT. 22

D. E! WASHINGTON. SUB-MARINE AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25. 1907.

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1H: NORRIS PETERS m, wllsl lmamn, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DIXON E. WASHINGTON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHNF. TIPPETT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SUBMABINE AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed March 25,1907. Serial No. 364,310.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that .l, DIXON E. WASHINGTON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain-new and useful Improvements in Submarine AmusementDevices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in submarine amusement devices,and the primary object of'the in vention is to provide an improveddevice of this character adapted to be submerged and propelled whilesubmerged.

A further object is to provide improved means for submerging andretaining the device submerged without interfering with its propulsionwhile submerged.

A further object is to provide improved means for maintaining a supplyof air for the occupants.

A further object is to provide an improved device of this characterwhich will be simple, cheap and durable in construction, an d effectiveand eflicient in operation.

To the attainment of these ends and the accomplishment of other new anduseful objects, as will appear, the invention consists in the featuresof novelty in the construction, combination and arrangement of'theseveral parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed and shown inthe accompanying drawings, illustrating an exemplification of theinvention, and in which-- Figure 1 is a side cl ovation, partly brokenaway, of an improved device of this character constructed in ac cordancewth the principles of this invention, showing the same in full linessubmerged, and in dotted lines in a position to receive the passengers.Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 isa top plan view of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on linel-4 of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and in this exemplificationof the invention, the numeral 10 designates a boat or other suitablecraft which is adapted to float upon the top of the water, and whichlatter is preferably arranged to run in a suitable channel constructedfor the purpose. This boat may be of any desired size and constructionand provided with ordinary seats 11 for the use of the occupants. V

The numeral 12 designates a bell constructed of any suitable material,preferably of the configuration shown and provided with an open bottom13. This bell is of a length somewhat greater than the length of theboat 10 and is preferably provided with a pointed forward extremity 14,so as not to interfere with the propulsion of the bell through thewater. The bell is also of a width greater than the width of the boat10, so that when it is placed over the boat, there will be a spaceformed around the boat within the bell. The bell is adapted to be placedover the boat as the latter rests upon the water and when the open edgeof the bell enair therein will be compressed and will force the waterlevel in the bell down to the position shown at 15, in Fig. 1. As thewater level lowers, the boat 10 will also be lowered and as long as thebell in maintained submerged, the boat will occupy the position shown infull lines in Figs. 1 and 4. While in this submerged position, the belland boat are adapted to be propelled through the water in any desired orsuitable manner but is preferably carried forward by means of thecurrent of the water which is created in a natural or by any suitableartificial means.

Any suitable means may be provided for raising and lowering the bell 12.A suitable and efficient means for accomplishing this purpose comprisesa truck 16 provided with suitable supporting wheels 17, which aremounted or rest upon overhead tracks 18. Arranged above each of thetracks 18 and preferably parallel therewith are tracks 19 and thesetracks 19 are spaced from the tracks 18 a suitable distance to permitthe wheels 17 to pass between the respective pairs of tracks.

Mounted upon the truck 16 is a suitable motor 20 which is supplied withenergy from any suitable source. The shaft 21 of the motor is providedwith a suitable gear or pinion whee 22, which meshes with asuitable gear23, secured to a shaft 24 and this shaft 24-. is preferably providedwith a pinion wheel 25 which meshes with suitable gear wheels 26,secured to shafts 27. Secured also to the shafts 27 are suitable pinionwheels 28 located preferably adjacent the sides of the truck 16 and arepreferably so spaced as to stand directly above the sides of the bell12.

Secured to the bell 12 in any desired or suitable manner are a pluralityof rack bars 29, preferably four in number, two located 011 each sidethereof, and said rack bars are so located and are of such a length asto project upwardly from the bell 12 and through the truck 16 in such amanner that the teeth on the racks will engage the respective pinions 28on the shafts 27 so that when the shafts 27 are rotated by means of themotor 20, through the medium of the intermediate gears, 22, 23, 25 and26, the pinions 28 will raise or lower the racks 29 together with thebell 12, according to the direction of rotation of the motor 20. Ifdesired, suitable pulleys 30 may be provided so as to engage the rearfaces of the racks 29 to maintain the latter in engagement with thepinions 28.

In operation and with the bell raised to the position shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2 and with the boat upon the surface of the water, as alsoshown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, the passengers may enter the boat,after which the motor 20 may be started to lower the bell 12 when thebell is over the boat 10 so that its lower edge engages the water. Afurther lowering of the bell will first cause the air to be slightlycompressed and a further lowering of the bell will lower the boat 10 inthe manner already set forth. The boat may be lowered to any desireddepth in the water.

Any suitable means may be provided for retaining the bell and boatsubmerged. A suitable and efficient means for accomplishing this purposecomprises a ratchet wheel 31, which is preferably located on the motorshaft 21 and said ratchet wheel 31 is adapted to be engaged by a springcontrolled dog or pawl 32, which will lock the motor shaft and hold thebell in the desired position. The truck 16 is normally supported uponthe tracks 18 and when the bell is in its raised position, as shown indotted lines in Fig. 1, the truck may be moved upon the tracks 18 toproperly position the same over the boat 10 but when the bell 12 andboat 10 are submerged, the buoyancy of the water will tend to raise thetruck 16 from the tracks 18 and cause the wheels 1'7 thereof to engagethe upper tracks 19, which latter will hold the truck from displacement.

The dog or pawl 32 may be provided with a suitable flexible member 33,by means of which the pawl may be disengaged from the ratchet wheel 31to permit the bell to be raised.

The bell may be provided with suitable windows 34 preferably located inthe sides thereof and through which the occupants may view theimitations of various sea plants, et cetera, which may be providedwithin the channel as a source of amusement, for the passengers as theboat is being propelled. These windows are preferably located somedistance from the top of the bell so that, in the event of an accident,by means of which the windows become broken, which would permit theentrance of water into the bell, the occupants may stand in the boat orupon the seats, which will bring their heads above the water level andprevent suffocation or drowning. If desired, the bell may be alsoprovided with a suitable manhole 35. Suitable braces 36, 37, may beprovided for the ends of the racks 29 and the free extremities of thebraces 36 may be secured to the bell in any desired or suitable manner,preferably to a circumferential flange 38 which surrounds the lower oropen end thereof. It will thus be seen that with this improvedconstruction, when the bell and boat have been submerged, they will bemaintained in their submerged condition and will be propelled throughthe water, the truck 16 moving along the tracks 18 as the bell and boatadvances and when the limit of the course has been reached, the dog orpawl 32 may be released by means of the flexible member 33 to permit thebell to be raised. As the bell is raised, the boat will also rise andwhen the boat reaches the surface of the water and the bell is liftedaway from the boat, the boat may be conveyed on the surface of the waterto any desired point in any suitable manner, and the bell 12 may bereturned to the starting point by simply moving the truck 16 upon thetracks 18.

In order that the invention might be fully understood by those skilledin the art, the details of the foregoing embodiment thereof have beenthus specifically described, but

What 1 claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patentis- 1. An amusement device comprising a submarine craft, means forsubmerging the craft, and a support for said means independent of thecraft.

2. An amusement device comprising a submarine craft, means forsubmcrging the craft, a support for said means independent of the craft,and means for advancing the craft while submerged. I

3. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, and meansindependent of the craft for submerging the latter, said craft beingadapted to be advanced while submerged.

4. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, and meansfor lowering the water level adjacent the craft, and for submerging thelatter, said craft being adapted to be advanced while submerged.

5. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, means forlowering the water level adjacent the craft and for submerging thelatter, and means for retain ing the craft submerged, said craft beingadapted to be advanced while submerged.

G. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a belladapted to be placed over the craft to inclose the same, and means forsubmerging the bell whereby the craft will also be submerged.

7.. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bellhaving an open bottom, and means for submerging the bell whereby thewater level adjacent the craft will be lowered to submerge the latter.

8. In an amusement device, the combination of a water 1 craft, a bellhaving an open bottom, means for submerging the bell whereby the waterlevel adjacent the craft will be lowered to submerge the latter, andmeans for retaining the bell submerged, said bell being adapted to beadvanced while submerged.

9. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bellhaving an open bottom, means for supporting the bell, means for placingthe bell over the craft with its open bottom adjacent the water and forlowering the bell into the water whereby the bell will be closed by thewater and the craft will be submerged by and float within the bell.

10. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bellhaving an open bottom, means for placing the bell over the craft so asto be closed by the water to confine the air therein, said bell beingadapted to be submerged, the confined air being compressed by thesubmcrging of the bell whereby the craft will also be submerged andfloat within the bell.

11. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, and a bellhaving an open bottom, said bell being adapted to be placed over thecraft, and submerged, whereby the craft will float within the bell andbe submerged thereby, said bell being provided withoutlook openings.

12. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bellhaving an open bottom, means for supporting and transporting said bell,means for placing the bell over the craft and lowering the same tosubmerge the craft, said bell and craft being adapted to be advancedwhile submerged, and means for retaining the bell submerged.

13. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a bellhaving an open bottom, means for supporting and transporting said bell,means for placing the bell over the craft and lowering the same tosubmerge the craft, said bell and craft. being adapted to be advancedwhile submerged, means for retaining the bell submerged, and means forpreventing displacement of the said supporting and transporting means.

14. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, anoverhead truck, a bell having an open bottom supported by the truck,means on the truck for lowering the bell over the craft to submerge thelatter, means for holding the craft submerged, and means for preventingdis placement of the truck.

15. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, anoverhead track, a truck movable on the track, a bell supported by thetruck, said bell having an open bottom and adapted to be positioned overthe craft, means for submerging the bell whereby the craft will besubmerged to float within the bell, means for retaining the craft andbell submerged, and an additional track coiiperat ing with the firstsaid track to prevent displacement of the truck.

16. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a track, atruck movable upon thetrack, a bell having; an open bottom and adaptedto be placed over the craft, a rack operatively related to the bell, apinion mounted on the truck and meshing with the rack for supporting thebell and for raising and lowering the latter, means for operating thepinion to lower the bell over the craft and submerge the same wherebythe craft will also be submerged, and means for retaining the bell andcraft submerged, said bell and craft being adapted to be advanced Whilesubmerged,

17. In an amusement device, the combination of a water craft, a track, atruck movable upon the track, a bell having an open bottom and adaptedto be placed over the craft, a rack operatively related to the bell, apinion mounted on the truck and meshing with the .rack for sup portingthe bell and for raising and lowering the latter, means for operatingthe pinion to lower the bell over the craft and submerge the samewhereby the craft will also be submerged, means for retaining the belland craft submerged, said bell and craft being adapted to be advancedwhile submerged, a second track located above and co6p erating with thefirst track and adapted to be engaged by the wheels of the truck whenthe bell is submerged to prevent displacement of the truck.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses,

